Striping tool



STRIPING TOOL Filed OCt. 6. 192B 2 Sheets-Sheet l LSZBAZ 7 Sept, w, NSL i J. T. GREEN STRIPING TOOL Filed Oct. 6, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A f, f

Patented Sept. l15, 1931 UNITED STATES' PATENT OFFICE JOHN THOMAS GREEN, F DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOB TO GENERAL MOTORS COB- PORATION, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN', A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE STBIPING TOOL Application med October 6, 1928. Serial No. 310,869.

This invention relates to stripin apparatus and is designed particularly or use in the finishing of automobile bodies or the like.

Heretofore the painting of an ornamental stripe on an automobile body has been a slow, tedious and laborious task requiring the services of highly skilled workmen who apply the stripe bythe e e with a hand brush. Because of their s ill, experienced stripers are few in number, command high wages, and are hard to control as employees.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide a simple device-that is more or less automatic in o eration and easy to use, and which in the ands of the ordinary person without special training will apply a uniform smooth stripe at a rapid rate, whereby the past labor diiliculties will be eliminated and production costs materially reduced.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved self-guiding nozzle having quick acting valve mechanism, which opens or closes the iiow of stripin material directly at the point of appllcation to the work, thereby serving to avoid blotching or smearing of the stripe and insuring an even stripe.

Another object of the invention is to provide a stripin tool which will deliver the striping materlal to the surface or work to be ornamented under a constant pressure so that the iow will be uniform at all times.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the course of the followin specification, when taken in connection w1th the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a view showing the apparatus forming the present subject matter; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the stripe applying nozzle; Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 3--3 of Fig. 2; Fig.4 is a plan view of a portion of the valve element; Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view'of the pressure regulator; Figs. 6 and 7 are a side elevation and an end view respectively, of a modified type of guide; Fig. 8 is an elevation show-` -ing an alternative form of striping instru- 50 ment; Fig. 9 is a transverse section taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is a section taken on 10--10 of Fi 8; Fig. 11 is a section on line 11-11 o Fig. 9; and Fig. 12 is a section taken on line 12-12 of Fig. 9.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, the character 1 indicates a tank or container for striping material connected by a length of flexible cable or conduit 2 with a stri e applying tool 3, that is 'provided with sultable valve mechanism to control the fiow of striping material, as will be later described. Itis proposed to discharge the striping material or paint from the reservoir 1 under a relatively low, constant pressure of about five pounds, and for this purpose air or other fluid under pressure flows to the reservoir 1 through a lconduit or pipe 4, pressure regulator 5, and conduit 6 from a high pressure tank or reservoir 7, having filler opening 8 closed by a suitable valve. The pressure regulator, which may be of any conventional construction, inthe present case is of the diaphgram type,"and consists of a flexible Wall or diaphragm 11 connected by a link 12 with a pivoted lever 13 that moves a needle valve 14 toward and from its seat upon fiexing of the diaphragm. The pressure at which the needle valve will open to admit air into the container 1 may be regulated by the adjustment of a set scew 15 to vary the tension of a spring blade or plate 16 bearing against the diaphgram. When the device is to be loaded the stop cock or valve 17 is turned ofi', the container 1 is filled' with paint through the inlet or filler 18 and compressed air or other fluid is introduced through the filler spout 8 into the tank 7 up to a pressure ofi approximately 25 pounds. After this, the stop cock 17 may be opened, whereupon the pressure regulator comes into action to maintain the pressure on the striping fluid substantially constant at all times. Vith one hand the operator carries the pressure tanks and manipulates the stripe-applying tool 3 in the other hand, moving it along the surface to be striped, and operating with one finger, the valve controlling the flow. As the paint flows` out, the pressure regulator automatically permits the iiuid from the high pressure tank to pass into' the low pressure or paint tank, displacing the discharged paint and keeping the'pressure up to the desired predetermlne value.

Within the barrel 3 is located a reciprocato stem 20 having an enlarged bearmg or bo y portion 21, which in the present case is of cross shape in transverse section to provide openings for the passage of striping fluid through the barrel and the reduced tip or nose 22 at its end. Carried by the enlarged bearing portion 21 is a reduced extension or wire 23 projecting through the nose or tip and seating against the sides of the discharge opening to control the flow 'of striping material and cut off the flow directly at the point of application of the stripe. Surrounding the stem 20 and bearing 4against the head 21 to maintain the valve element upon its seat is a coil spring 24 held within the barrel by bushing 25 also of cross sha e in section and threaded in the end of t e barrel. Extending laterally on opposite sides of the barrel and integral therewith are a pair of tubular extensions 28, and 29, in which is reciprocable a depressible plunger having a conical or cam surface $1 for engagement with a portion of the body 21, to shift the valve element against the tension of the spring 24 to open position. and also having a portion of smaller diameter as at 32 extending through an opening 33 in the valve element, and an extension or stem 33 projecting through the tubular portion 29. The extension 33 carries a disc or Washer 34 against which bears a coil spring -35 held in place by a fitting 36, and being adapted to urge the plunger to its retracted position when the downward pressure exerted by the operators finger is released. In order to control the degree of valve opening, a set screw 37 is threaded ill-the fitting 36 and held in adjusted position by lock nut 38 to afford a stop or abutment for the stem 33 to limit the extent of plunger depression. v

Secured on the tip portion 22 by set screw 41 is a collar or sleeve 42 having lugs 43 in which is mounted a shaft 44 carrying a pair of guide wheels or rollersl 45 provided with curved faces for engagement with a moulding strip 46 on the body 47. Also carried on the shaft 44 is a guide roller. 48 for engagement with the work and preferably carrying a rubber tire so as to avoid scratching or marring of the painted surface.

A different type of guide for insuring the proper location of the stripe is shown in Figs. 6 and 7, wherein a carrier 51 is secured by a set screw 52to the striping tool, and carries a pair of concave rollers 53 for engagement with the curved surface of the moulding strip and also a pair of rollers 54 for contact with the fiat surface of the body.

In lieu of the striping instrument before described there may be substituted the tool shown in Fig. 8 which consists of a handle portion 60 having a barrel 61, on one end of which is detachably secured the nozzle tip 62.4 Seating vin the discharge opening hold the valve 63 on its seat. Engaging,

with the collar 66 to move the stem against the tension of the spring 69, is a link 72 hinged by means of a stud 73 to the triggerlike lever 74, that is pivoted on the shaft 75 carried by a pair of lugs or arms 76 integral with the barrel 61. The trigger 74 is moved by the operators finger agamst spring blade 7 Whose tension may be varied by the set screw 78, to open the valve and allow the paint or other striping material to iow from the source of supply through the line 79 which is connected by a fitting 80 to a lateral hollow boss 81 communicating with the interior of the barrel. Y

To guide the tool along the work, a contact finger or plate 85 is slidably carried between the angle plate 86 ,and arm 87 of a collar 88 that may be secured on the barrel 61. Rivets or studs 89 connecting the angle plate 86 and arm 87 extend thru an elongated slot 90 in the finger 85 to hold the parts in assembly and permit sliding movement of the contact finger. Interposed between the outturned flange of the angle plate 86 and an angle plate 92 on the linger is a coil spring 93 surrounding the stem of a rivet 94, to yieldingly urge the finger toward its extended position.

Various modifications of the structure described may be made as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. A portable striping device including a barrel having a reduced tip portion thru which striping material is adapted to pass, a reciprocatory stem within said barrel having a reduced portion adapted to seat against the nose of the tip and an enlarged body portion bearing against the inner surface of the barrel, said enlarged body portion being provided with openings to permit the striping material to :How past the bod and manually operated means to shift sai stem.

2. A portable striping device, including a barrel thru which striping material is adapted to flow, a reduced tip on the barrel for applying the striping material to the work, a valve element in the barrel comprising a reciprocatory stem-having a reduced port1on terminal tip for seating engagement with the nose of the tip and an enlarged bearing portlon for sliding engagement with the inner surface of the barrel, a tension spring active on the stem to seal the valve, a depressible plunger disposed laterally to the valve element and having a reduced portion for projection thru an aperture in said element and a cam surface for engagement with the element to open the valve against the tension of said spring upon depression of the plunger, a spring element bearing on the plunger to resist its depression and adjustable stop means, to limit the extent or depression of the plunger to control the degree of valve opening.

3. A portable striping device, including a barrel thru which striping material is adapted to iiow, a substantially conical or tapered tip for contact with the Work to lay down a sharply defined line upon relative movement of the device over the Work, a valve element in the barrel comprising a reciprocatory stem having a reduced portion for seating engagement Within the conical tip and an enlarged bearing portion for sliding engagement with the inner surface of the barrel, having an aperture for the iioW of striping material therebeyond anda reciprocable plunger extending through an opening in the stem and having a cam surface engageable with a portion of-the stem to slide the same and shift said reduced por? tion o its seat in the tip.

4. The structure of claim 8, and a tension spring against which the plunger is recip` rocable, and an adjustable stop adapted for abutment with the end of the plunger extended through the stem to limit the extent of plunger movement and control the degree of valve opening.

5. A portable handtool for applying a contrasting line stripe upon a painted body or the like, including a barrel having a terminal tip for contact with the work and an axial bore for the passage therethru of striping material and a pair of alined lateral bores on opposite sides of the axial bore, a reciprocatory stem in the axial bore adapted toseat against the endmost portion of the tip to close the passageway immediate its termination, and a reciprocatory plunger extending from a point outside the barrel thru both of said lateral bores and across the axial bore and operatively engaging said stem.

6. A portabley tool for applying a contrasting line stripe upon a painted body or the like, including a tubular barrel having a for contact with the work and a pair of diametrically opposite lateral pro- 'ections, a reciprocatory stem in the barrel aving a portion adapted to seat immediate the'work contacting end of the barrel tip to close the barrel passageway at the point of contact with the work, a reciprocatory plunger extending across the barrel and thru both of said projections and engaging the stem to shiftthe same, and an adjustable stop in one of said projections for abutment with an adjacent part of the plunger to 11mit the extent of plunger reciprocation.

7. A portable hand tool for applying a contrasting line stripe upon a painted body or the like, including a tubular barrel having a terminal tip for contact With the Work and a pair of diametrically opposite lateral projections, a reciprocatory stem in the barrel having a portion adapted to seat 1n the tip at the immediate end of the barrel passage, a spring Within the barrel bearing on the stem to normally maintain the stern seated, a reciprocatory plunger extending across the barrel and thru both of said lateral projections and engaging the stem to shift the same against its spring, and a spring element associated with said plunger to resist its movement in one direction.

8. A hand tool for applying line striping, including a barrel having a Work contacting nozzle, a reciprocatory stem slidable in said -barrel and provided with an end portion which is adapted to seat at the tip of the' nozzle to close the same, a hollow boss pro` jected laterally from the barrel, and a depressible plunger slidable in said boss and provided with an inclined cam surface for engagement With the stem to shift said stem upon movement thereof.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JOHN THOMAS GREEN. 

